Selectmen approve plan to extend municipal sewer lines

SALEM — Selectmen are satisfied with a plan by the Key Auto Group to extend municipal sewer lines down Hampshire Road for a new 20,000-square-foot collision center.

Earlier this month, the Planning Board granted conditional approval for the project, allowing the developer to begin foundation and site work.

The developer had been working with town engineers, at the request of the Planning Board, to extend municipal sewer from Route 28 to the site.

However, it was up to selectmen to make the final decision on the sewer extension.

At a public hearing on Oct. 7, selectmen delayed a vote on the sewer extension, given that several project abutters were not notified about the hearing. Several selectmen also stated that they wanted more detailed information on the specifics of the sewer extension and how it would impact town roads.

At this week's public hearing, no abutters spoke on the project, and selectmen were by and large happy with the developer's plans to reclaim and overlay pavement.

Town Manager Keith Hickey said the roadwork will actually save the town some money, since the area of Hampshire Road near the intersection of Route 28 was scheduled for a mill and overlay project in 2015.

“That work can now be deferred to a later date,” said Hickey.

Selectman Stephen Campbell said his only concern was a proposed trench across Route 28 to connect to the manhole necessary to complete the project.

“Roads are not my thing; numbers are my thing,” said Campbell. “But I've yet to see a trench path that is virtually as good as the road around it. It falls apart faster, and here we are talking about going across the most heavily traveled road in town.”

Paving contractor Tom Severino of Severino Trucking assured the board that his company has done similar projects across heavily traveled highways and also said his company was willing to put up a three year bond to make sure the roadwork is satisfactory.aswift@newstote.com